Tagged: donald sterling

Ok – let me FIRST say a few things. Donald Sterling is a crazy old man. He is a racist and seemingly cruel individual who obviously needs some help. The guy has caused great harm to his family and damaged any legacy he might have had as an NBA owner. Would I want to work for him? NO. Do I think he should be ashamed of his mentality and general ignorance? YES. BUT…I have a problem with this whole entire thing.

The problem I have is simple – If we start to persecute people based on their opinions and for what they say during private conversations…we’re going to have a major problem. Chances are the very vast majority of people, both in positions of power and otherwise, have said SOMETHING privately to another individual that would upset a lot of folks. Should we ban those people for life and fine them $2.5m? I don’t think so.

Donald Sterling, like the rest of the free world, is entitled to his opinion – however misguided and offensive it might be. It’s not like the dude went to a rally and or stood on-top of a rooftop and tried to rally people around his ignorant views. He had a private conversation that was taped, super shadily by some girlfriend who is out for fame and fortune, and now the guy has a serious problem on his hands and is basically being forced to sell something he owns. Something is not right about that. If you disagree – think really hard about every single private conversation you ever had and I’d bet that you can remember a statement, joke, story or tale that might just offend some people – AND imagine because of that conversation some governing body comes to you and BANS YOU FOR LIFE and effectively black lists you from your profession, slandering you along the way. Again – it’s just not right.

Let me say, again, I 100% disagreed with his views…I am with the general public regarding the sentiment that there is no room for that kind of racism (private or not) in society…BUT I feel sorry for this old man. Not TOO sorry though…because reports say he’s going to pocket about half a billion dollars when he decided to sell the team….BUT sorry enough because his family has been forced to take a public stance against him and he is being ridiculed publicly for statements he made privately.